Device for inserting laces under shoe uppers



July 17, 1923.

A. J. SMILEY DEVICE FOR INSERTING LACES UNDER SHOE UPPERS F'iled Oct. 16. 1922 Patented July 17, 1923.

* uui'rso stares ALBERT J. SMILEY, OFPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVICE FOR INSERTING LACES UNDER SHOE UPPERS;

Application filed October 16, 1922. Serial No. 594,834.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT J. SMILEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Inserting Laces Under Shoe Uppers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

A great many persons after lacing the shoe insert the ends of the lace under the upper of the shoe, particularly when low quarter shoes are worn, so as to present a neat appearance, thereby preventing the ends of the lace hanging from the shoe.

It is, therefore, the purpose of the present invention to provide a lace inserting tool or implement constructed from apiece of wire formed in a loop at one end, with a recess or depression in the end of the loop, said recess or depression adapted to engage with the end portion of the lace, whereby the lace may be inserted between the upper of the shoe and the stocking. 7

Those who insert the ends of the lace between the upper of the shoe and the stocking use their fingers to accomplish the result. The fingers are too large to enter between the upper of the shoe and the stocking to any great degree, so as to properly msertthe end portions of the lace, therefore no time the end portions pull out.

Another purpose is to provide a lace 1nserting implement, which has a lace receiving recess or depression and 1S constructed of relatively thin material such as pliable wire, so that the implement may easily pass between the upper of the shoe and the hose, so that the end portions of the lace may be inserted a considerable distance down between the upper and the stocking, thereby preventing the end portions of the lace from pulling out.

Still another purpose is the provision of an implement of this character connected to a shoe horn, so that the two implements may be carried as one, so that either will at all times be handy. In fact the operator may first use the shoe horn to facilitate putting on the shoes particularly low quarters, and after the shoes are laced, the lace inserting tool may be moved from position, and used for inserting the end portions of the lace be tween the upper and the stocking.

When the lace inserting tool is not in use,

it may be moved on its pivot so as to lie against one face of the shoe horn, inwhich case when the shoe horn is laid aside, the two implements will occupy but a small space.

ltis to be understood that the particulars herein glven are in no way limitative and that while still keeping within the scope of the invention, any desired modifications of detail and desired proportions may be made in the apparatus according to circumstances.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed. I

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a low quarter shoe as applied to the foot of a wearer, and showing the implement in position to insert the end portions of the lace between the shoe upper and the stocking;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the implement constructed in accordance with the invention and shown as applied to a shoe horn.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the implement as a whole, which is constructed from a single length of relatively thin more or less pliable wire. The wire is bent upon itself substantially midway its ends as at 2, that is to say in two places, the opposite portions thereof being brought together asat 3 and twisted, one to the other, to provide a shank 4. The idea of bending the wire at the two places indicated by the reference character 2 and brought together as at 8, causes a substantially triangular loop 5 to be formed.

The transverse portion of the substantially triangular loop is provided with a recess or depression 6 which extends in a direction toward the crotch of the triangular loop. This depression or recess constitutes means for the reception of substantially one-half of the diameter of the shoe lace, and when engaged with the lace, as shown clearly in Figure 1, and the loop end of the implement is inserted between the shoe and the stocking, the lace may be easily inserted between the shoe and the stocking. Obviously both ends of thelace may be inserted between the upper of the shoe and the stocking, thereby producing a very neat appearance, around the feet of those using this form of implement.

The extremities of the twisted portions of the wire are brought together and soldered or otherwise connected causing a loop to be formed. This loop 7 engages about the curved edge 8 of a plate 9, which is swiveled rotatab-ly on a pin 10 carried by one end of a shoe horn 11, that is to say by the smaller end thereof. Therefore when the shoe lace inserting implement is not in use, it may be folded or turned to a position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2 and adjacent one face of the shoe horn, so that the implement will consume a minimum amount of space when the implement is not in use; namely, when placed to one side. Obviously when theshoe horn is being used, the shoe lace insorting implement may be turned to a position where it may be used either to insert a lace, or used asa handle, when the shoe horn is used for facilitating the putting on of low quarter shoes. 7 j

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed 'is: V

1'..;As an article of manufacture, a shoe lace inserting implement comprising ash'ank having a loop at one end, the transverse end portionof the loop having a seat or depression constructed and adapted to snugly embrace the shoe lace when the end of the latter is disposed at right angles to the loop whereby upon moving the implement in a plane parallel to the surface of the upper the lace will be forced in between the upper and the foot, said shank-and loop being const'ruoted of a single length of wire, a handle, and means pivotally connecting the shank to the handleso that the shank maybe swung into a plane parallel with the handle to lie in a folded position beside the handle and whereby said shank may be swung from said folded position to extend in a substantially aligned relation with the handle and project outwardly from the end of the latter.

2. As an article of manufacture, a shoe lace inserting implement comprising a shank havinga loop at one end, the 'trans'vese end portion of the loop having'a seat or depression constructed and adapted to snugly embrace the shoe lace when'the end of the latl ter is disposed at right angles to the loop, whereby upon moving the implement in a plane parallel with the surface of the upper, the lace will be forced in between the upper and the foot, said shank and loop -b'ev 1 ing constructed from a single length of'wire,

plate like handle, and means at the other end of the shank pivotal-1y attaching the shank to the handle so that the shank may be swung in a plane parallel with the plane 5 pivoted.

In testimony whereof I hereunto my signature.

ALBERT 'J. "SMILEY. 

